*By Britt Terrell* Howard Schultz's philanthropic efforts and commitment to liberal causes may make him an appealing Democratic candidate. But Schultz, the outgoing executive chairman of Starbucks, could have a difficult time with some liberals if he decides to run for office. "I wonder if the left wing of the Democratic Party would be receptive to somebody who has CEO at the top of their resume," said Eric Boehm, a reporter at Reason.com. "I think Schultz will face some push-back from that." In an [interview Tuesday with CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/05/howard-schultz-rips-democrats-for-veering-too-far-left.html), Schultz may have invited push-back when he said some Democrats have unrealistic expectations of what government can do. "It concerns me that so many voices within the Democratic Party are going so far to the left. I say to myself, 'How are we going to pay for these things?'" Schultz said in reference to popular liberal proposals like single-payer healthcare and government-supported full employment efforts. "I don't think that's something realistic," he added. Schultz, who announced on Monday he would step away from Starbucks, the company he ran as chief executive or chairman for about 30 years, said he is considering a number of options for his future. Public service is one of them, but even he acknowledged in his CNBC interview that his corporate background could complicate a run for office. Still, with another businessman occupying the White House, it's difficult to dismiss the potential positives of Schultz's experience in a matchup with Donald Trump. And Schultz's history of incorporating liberal issues as part of Starbucks' public image may be appealing to many mainstream Democrats and centrist voters. "He knows that companies have to make money and he has done that in a way while still having liberal values," said Ed Carson, a news writer at Investor's Business Daily in an interview with Cheddar. "And I think that would be an effective combination both in the Democratic primary and in the general election." Boehm also cited Schultz's business pedigree and his experience managing a business from start-up to multinational success as a counter narrative to President Donald Trump's own story as successful businessman. "He could put his resume, taking a small coffee chain from Seattle and turning it into a globe-dominating brand, he could put that right up against Donald Trump's supposed resume, which includes numerous bankruptcies and business failures," Boehm said, adding that Schultz could make the case to the voters: "Hey, if you want a business man in the White House, maybe it should be me." For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/howard-schultz-2020).

Share:
More In Politics
Georgia Primaries Show Limits of Former President Trump's Influence
Cheddar Politics takes a deeper look at the takeaways from the Georgia primary elections on Tuesday. Georgia Public Broadcasting's local and state politics reporter, Stephen Fowler, joins us to discuss the limits of Trump endorsements and break down what the outcome in each race means.
Calls Grow for Social Media to Flag Threats in Wake of School Shooting
After learning that the suspect in the Uvalde school shooting posted about his intentions on Facebook, activists are urging social networks to make changes. Lena Derhally, a licensed psychotherapist and author of "The Facebook Narcissist," joined Cheddar News to discuss the role social media plays in school shootings. "They're not really invested in taking down hateful content," she said about social platforms."In regards to the shooting, it was 15 minutes before that actual threat. It would be pretty hard for a social media company to trace that threat that quickly. But what they can do better is take down threats and hateful content much faster and more than they're doing now."
Calls for Gun Reform Once Again in Aftermath of Uvalde School Shooting
Following the mass shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two adults dead, the debate over gun control has been reignited. While studies have shows most Americans agree on some additional regulations, there hasn't been much legislative traction even as gun violence worsens in the country. Brian Lemek, the executive director of Defend The Vote and the former executive director at Brady PAC for gun control, joined Cheddar to discuss reform efforts. "The lawmakers that we have aren't passing these at the federal level," he said. "That's the problem. We have the wrong people in charge."
Terra Collapse Leaves Questions About Impact on Broader Crypto Market
The crypto industry is still reeling from Terra's recent crash. The company's blockchain was temporarily halted earlier this month after the collapse of its cryptocurrency Luna (LUNA) and its stablecoin TerraUSD (UST), which led to almost $45 billion being wiped from the tokens' market caps within a week. Now, many are left wondering what Terra's struggles mean for the broader crypto market. Reeve Collins, CEO of the NFT platform BLOCKv, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell from Davos 2022 to discuss.
Joe Sanberg's Efforts to Increase Minimum Wage in California
The average city in California has a 38% higher cost of living than the average American city, according to a cost of living index. For many, the general minimum wage of $15/hour just doesn't cut it. Anti-poverty activist Joe Sanberg wants to get the minimum wage changed to $18/hour. He joins Cheddar News to discuss the Living Wage Act of 2022.
Load More